New Music Releases - June 15, 2010

Adai - Felo De Se Cavity Records
Aretha Franklin - Essential 3.0 (3 CDs)
Arif Mardin - All My Friends Are Here
Big Star - #1 Record (vinyl reissue)
Big Star - Radio City (vinyl reissue)
Billy Joel - Innocent Man (Vinyl)
Blood Feathers - Good Gracious (vinyl)
Blood Sweat & Tears - Sail Away Live in Stockholm 1973
Casanova - One Night Stand (Deluxe Edition) Tribunal Records
Charlie Daniels Band - Essential 3.0 (3 CDs)
Chris Isaak - Live at the Fillmore (mp3)
Cowboy Junkies - Renmin Park (mp3)
Cure - Disintegration (2-LP vinyl remastered edition)
Dee Dee Sharp - Happy Bout the Whole Thing / What Color Is Love? / Dee Dee (2 CDs)
Devo - Something For Everybody
Drake - Thank Me Later (mp3)
Dream Syndicate - Medicine Show
Ed Harcourt - Lustre (mp3)
Edgar Winter - Rebel Road
Elvin Bishop - Red Dog Speaks
Equilibrium - Rekreatur
Eric Bibb - Spirit & The Blues
Esther Phillips - Capricorn Princess
Fabulous Ginn Sisters - You Can't Take a Bad Girl Home (mp3)
Field Music - Let's Write a Book (vinyl)
Foals - Total Life Forever (vinyl) (mp3)
Foghat - Last Train Home
Frank Sinatra - Sinatra & Sextet: Live in Paris
Fred Eaglesmith - Cha Cha Cha
Gaslight Anthem - American Slang (vinyl) (mp3)
Georgia Anne Muldrow - Jyoti-Ocotea (mp3)
Ginger Baker & African Friends - Live in Berlin: Germany 1978
Goldfrapp - Alive (vinyl)
Grave - Burial Ground Regain Records
Grupo Fantasma - Existential (mp3)
Guggenheim Grotto - The Universe Is Laughing (mp3)
Heartsounds - Until We Surrender Epitaph Records
Henry Mancini - Complete Peter Gunn
Holy Hail - The Dying (After) Party (vinyl)
Hosannas - Song Force Crystal (mp3)
In Fear And Faith - Imperial
Isley Brothers - Essential 3.0 (3 CDs)
Jack Rose and D.Charles Speer and the Helix - Ragged and Right (vinyl) (mp3)
Jimi Hendrix - Bleeding Heart/Jam 292 (Single) (Vinyl)
Jimmy Dawkins - The Leric Story
John Cunningham - John Cunningham 1998-2002 (mp3)
John Jackson - Rappahannock Blues
John Mellencamp - On the Rural Route 7609: Special Edition (4 CDs) (Preview)
Johnny Horton - Springtime In Alaska: 26 Classic Recordings
Johnny Mathis - Essential 3.0 (3 CDs)
Junior Wells - Southside Blues Jam (Vinyl)
Keepaway - Baby Style (vinyl)
Kevin Welch - Patch of Blue Sky (mp3)
Lady Gaga - Alejandro the Remixes
Laurie Anderson - Homeland
Lewis Black - Stark Raving Black (mp3)
Light Pollution - Apparitions
Locks - Suicides Don't Commit Themselves (mp3)
Lucy Woodward - Hooked
Madness - Keep Moving (2 CDs)
Madness - Rise & Fall (2 CDs)
Marina And The Diamonds - The Family Jewels (vinyl)
Metallica - Load (4 LPs @ 45 RPM) (Vinyl)
Mike Oldfield - Hergest Ridge (Vinyl)
Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn (Vinyl)
Miles Davis - Live at the Hollywood Bowl 1981
Mitch Woods - Gumbo Blues
Morcheeba - Blood Like Lemonade (mp3)
Mountain - Live in NYC
Nat King Cole - Anthology (3 CDs)
Nat King Cole - The Very Thought of You
Nazareth - Expect No Mercy (Remastered & Expanded)
Nazareth - No Mean City (Remastered & Expanded)
O.V. Wright - A Nickel & A Nail & The Ace Of Spades
Oasis - Time Flies...1994-2009 (5-LP vinyl box set) (mp3)
Oval - Oh (vinyl) (mp3)
Papa Roach - To Be Loved
Paul Rodgers - Live at Hammersmith Apollo 09 (3 CDs)
People Like Us & Wobbly - Music for the Fire (mp3)
Pernice Brothers - Goodbye, Killer
Pineapple Thief - Someone Here Is Missing (mp3)
Pitbull - Armando
Playing for Change - Playing for Change Live
Porcupine Tree - Anesthetize (dvd)
Punch Brothers - Antifogmatic (2-CD & DVD) (mp3)
Rasputina - Sister Kinderhook
Richard Hawley - False Lights from the Land EP (vinyl & CD) (mp3)
Robert Wyatt - Greatest Misses
Robyn - Body Talk Pt 1 (mp3)
Ron Dante - Favorites
Santana - Essential 3.0 (3 CDs)
Sarah McLachlan - Laws Of Illusion (CD & DVD) (vinyl) (mp3)
Scritti Politti - Best of
Sex Pistols - Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (Vinyl)
Sleep Good - Skyclimber (mp3)
Spandau Ballet - Parade (2 CDs)
Spandau Ballet - True (2 CDs/1 DVD)
Spiritualized - Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (2-LP vinyl reissue)
Stephen Egerton - Seven Degrees of Stephen Egerton (mp3)
Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere - Midnight Flyer
Steve Miller Band - Bingo! (10 Tracks)
Steve Miller Band - Bingo! (14 Tracks)
Steve Miller Band - Bingo! (mp3)
Steve Winwood - Revolutions: The Very Best of Steve Winwood (mp3)
Stewart - Kicks
Suzanne Vega - Close-Up Vol. 1, Love Songs (Retail release)
Tangerine Dream - Booster III (2 CDs)
Tangerine Dream - Great Wall of China
Tangerine Dream - Hyperborea 2008
Tangerine Dream - Run to Vegas (CD/LP)
Tangerine Dream - Tangram 2008
Teenage Fanclub - Shadows (vinyl)
The Dimes - The King Can Drink The Harbour Dry (vinyl)
The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang
The Like - Release Me (vinyl) (mp3)
The Loons - Red Dissolving Rays of Light (vinyl) (mp3)
Those Poor Bastards - Gospel Haunted (vinyl & CD) (mp3)
Tom Jones - Burning Hell (Single) (Vinyl)
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Mojo
Tracey Thorn - Love & Its Opposite (with bonus CD)
UB40 - Live at Birmingham LG Arena (2 CDs)
Uriah Heep - Live at Sweden Rock Festival 2009
Various Artists - Bustin' Out 1982: New Wave To New Beat Vol 2
Various Artists - Disco Boogie (2 CDs)
Various Artists - History of Rhythm & Blues Vol. 3: Rock n Roll
Various Artists - Kitsune Maison Compilation 9 (vinyl)
Various Artists - Lilith 2010 Compilation (mp3)
Various Artists - NOW 34
Various Artists - The Bunny 'Striker' Lee Story (4 CDs)
Vic Chesnutt - About To Choke (reissue) (vinyl)
Walter Egan - Collection (2 CDs)
We Are Scientists - Barbara (mp3)
Wilburn Brothers - In Harmony: Classic Albums & Singles (3 CDs)
Woodsman - Mystery Tape (vinyl) (mp3)





New Jazz Releases

Africa-My Jazz - Africa-My Jazz
After Work-My Jazz - After Work-My Jazz
Al Haig / Jimmy Raney - Freedom Jazz Dance
Alley Cats - Greatest Hits
Alley Cats - Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
Archie Shepp - New York Contemporary Five
Artswest - Redefinition
Artswest - Vocal Jazz Collection: Redefinition
Artswest: Vocal Jazz Collective - Redefinition
Bob Barnard - Cornet Chop Suey
Bob Scobey & His FR - Feelin The Spirit
Bob Scobey & His Frisco Jazz Band - Feelin' The Spirit
Broadway Bell-Hops - Broadway Bell Hops 1926-1928
Broadway Bell-Hops - Broadway Bell-Hops 1926-28
Broadway Bell-Hops - 1926-1928
Cab Calloway - Hi De Hi De Ho
Chet Baker - Groovy
Clancy Hayes - Feelin The Spirit
Coleman Hawkins - Free And Easy
Count Basie - Count Basie And The Kansas City 7
Curtis Fuller - I Will Tell Her
Dave Anderson Quartet - Clarity
Dave Burrell - Plays His Songs Featuring Leena Conquest
Dinner For Two-My Jazz - Dinner For Two-My Jazz
Discotheque Ideale - Discotheque Ideale: 25 Original Jazz Albums
Don Redman & His Or - Free And Easy
Don Redman & His Orchestra - Free & Easy
Durchatmen-My Jazz - Durchatmen-My Jazz
Eddie Johnson - Love You Madly
Embryo - Embryo's Rache
Eric Hofbauer - American Fear
Eric Hofrauer - American Fear
Erstrand-Lind Quarte - Tribute To The Benny Goodman Quartet
Fantastic Sound Of Wer - Fantastic Sound Of Wer
Fern Von Dir-My Jazz - Fern Von Dir-My Jazz
Freiheit-My Jazz - Freiheit-My Jazz
Gabor Szabo - Jazz Raga
Gentle Jazz (My Jazz) - Gentle Jazz (My Jazz)
George Kahn - Secrets From The Jazz Ghetto
Georgia Anne Muldrow - Jyoti-Ocotea
Gerald Albright - Pushing The Envelope
Gerardo Frisina - Join Dance
Gipsy Kings - Gipsy Kings
Girls From Ipanema - Girls From Ipanema
Greatest Jazz Stars (M - Greatest Jazz Stars
Guitar Dreams (My Jazz - Guitar Dreams
Jazz Club-Chill Out Ja - Jazz Club-Chill Out Ja
Jazz Club-Party Jazz - Jazz Club-Party Jazz
Jazz For Kids (My Jazz - Jazz For Kids (My Jazz
Jazz For Rainy Days-My - Jazz For Rainy Days-My
Jazz Macchiato-My Ja - Jazz Macchiato-My Ja
Jazz Swings Motown-Jaz - Jazz Swings Motown-Jaz
Jimmy Raney - Freedom Jazz Dance
Joe Venuti - Blue Five Swing
Joe Venuti & His Blue Five - Blue Five Swing
Joseph Patrick Moore's Drum n B - To Africa With Love
KAI WARNER - Jazz Club-Fantastic So
Ken Colyer - 1966
Kenneth Arnstrom - Rhythm King
Klanggold-My Jazz - Klanggold-My Jazz
Knud Jazz Jorgenson Trio - Knud Jorgensen Jazz Trio
Ladies' Jazz-My Jazz - Ladies' Jazz-My Jazz
Lars Erstrand - Lars Estrand Sessions
Lars Erstrand - Two Sides Of Lars Erstrand
Lars Erstrand - Lars Erstrand And Four Brothers
Lars Quart Erstrand - Dream Dancing With Lars Erstrand Quar
Lenny Popkin - 317 East 3ND
Lenny Popkin - 317 East 32ND
Lucy Woodward - Hooked
Makoto Ozone / Phil Wilson - Live At The Berklee Performance Center
Martin Sasse Trio - Good Times
Mary Kastle - Beneath The Folds
Mccoy Tyner - Nights Of Ballads And Blues
Midnight Jazz-My Jazz - Midnight Jazz-My Jazz
Miguel Frasconi - Gleam
Miguel Frasconi / Denman Maroney - Gleam
Mikrokolektyw - Revisit
Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis - Miles In The Movies
Monica Mancini - Upcoming Release
Monica Mancini - I've Loved These Days
Nat "King" Cole - Honeysuckle Rose-Jazz
Nathan Group Eklund - Coin Flip
Neal Hefti & His Or - Winner Is/Award Winning Songs1934-57
Neal Hefti & His Orchestra - And The Winner Is The Award Winning Songs From 1934 To 1957
New Latin Quarter - Jazz & Blues Collection 1
Night Club Jazz (My Ja - Night Club Jazz
Nur Mit Dir-My Jazz - Nur Mit Dir-My Jazz
Ocho Pies - Tropical Footprint
Paname Dandies - Le Swing De L'Escargot
Phil Wilson - Live At The Berklee Performance Cente
Piano Jazz-My Jazz - Piano Jazz-My Jazz
Pietro Ciancaglini - Reincarnation Of A Lovebird
Re: Jazz - Electrified
Relax & Dream-My Jazz - Relax & Dream-My Jazz
Rich Corpolongo - Get Happy
Richard Sussman - Live At Sweet Rhyhm
Romantic Gentlemen-My - Romantic Gentlemen-My
Romantic Jazz-My Jazz - Romantic Jazz-My Jazz
Royal Air Force Squadronaires` - In The Mood-The Glenn Miller Celebration
Soul Food (My Jazz) - Soul Food
Spaced-Out Jazz-Jazz C - Spaced-Out Jazz-Jazz C
Stacey Kent - Fine Romance
Stacey Kent / Jim Tomlinson - Fine Romance
Stan Getz - Jazz Club-Plays Bossa
Stanley Clarke - Stanley Clarke Band
Steve Lacy - November
Steve Tibbetts - Natural Causes
Sunny Jazz - Sunny Jazz
Swedish Jazz Kings - It's Right Here For You
Tea For Two (My Jazz) - Tea For Two
Tomas Ornberg - Nobody's Blues But Mine
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra - Hey There
Tommy Orches Dorsey - Hey There
Voices Of The World-My - Voices Of The World-My
Warren Covington - Hey There
What A Wonderful World - What A Wonderful World
Zachary Kellogg - Red Velvet
Ziggurat Quartet - Calculated Gestures

Have any new music releases you want to share? Send an email to rbenson30@wi.rr.com !

Rock and Roll Guru, Joe Heuer, On Tomorrow's VRT, 8pm ET / 5pm PT Radio Dentata

No, his hand isn't out 'cause he's asking for a miracle ticket. Joe Heuer is the author of three books, including The Rock 'n Roll Guide to Customer Loyalty. He'll join us on Vinyl Record Talk thisTuesday to share his insights on how to build a loyal tribe that will love you and promote you to the world.


He'll share how rock n' roll transformed his own life and career . . . and he'll even help Norm with his "Basil Fawlty" moods.

VINYL RECORD TALK ~ Tune In!

http://shows.radiodentata.com/shows/accidental-nostalgia  

Top 5 eBay Vinyl Records Sales - Week Ending 06/12/2010

1. 78 - Fury Lewis "Judge Harsh Blues" / "I Will Turn Your Money Green" Victor - $4,500.00

2. LP - Beatles "Yesterday And Today" Red Capitol Label - $4,000.00

3. 45 - The Thought Criminals "Hilton Bomber / I Won't Pay" / "Fun / O. Bleak T.V." - $2,929.74

4. LP - Tinkerbells "Fairydust" Decca UK Pressing - 4,009.08

5. LP - Tina Brooks "True Blues" Blue Note 4041 Original Pressing - $2,800.00

More on this week's top 5 on Vinyl Record Talk, Tuesday 8:00PM Eastern / 5:00PM Pacific on Radio Dentata.

http://shows.radiodentata.com/shows/accidental-nostalgia  

Music News & Notes

Singer, sausage businessman Jimmy Dean dies at 81

RICHMOND, Va. -- Jimmy Dean, a country music legend for his smash hit about a workingman hero, "Big Bad John," and an entrepreneur known for his sausage brand, died on Sunday. He was 81.

His wife, Donna Meade Dean, said her husband died at their Henrico County, Va., home.

She told The Associated Press that he had some health problems but was still functioning well, so his death came as a shock. She said he was eating in front of the television. She left the room for a time and came back and he was unresponsive. She said he was pronounced dead at 7:54 p.m.

"He was amazing," she said. "He had a lot of talents."

Born in 1928, Dean was raised in poverty in Plainview, Texas, and dropped out of high school after the ninth grade. He went on to a successful entertainment career in the 1950s and '60s that included the nationally televised "The Jimmy Dean Show."

In 1969, Dean went into the sausage business, starting the Jimmy Dean Meat Co. in his hometown. He sold the company to Sara Lee Corp. in 1984.

Dean lived in semiretirement with his wife, who is a songwriter and recording artist, on their 200-acre estate just outside Richmond, where he enjoyed investing, boating and watching the sun set over the James River.



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Jack White records live album with Conan O'Brien

Jack White has recorded a live album with US talk-show host Conan O'Brien. White joined the comedian for a one-off gig in Nashville, Tennessee, which is to be released on vinyl release in July.

The White Stripes frontman appeared with O'Brien at White's Third Man Records headquarters. Although 1,000 fans lined up, only 300 were admitted to the gig, which began with O'Brien performing solo, then accompanied by a backing band. White joined America's most famous redhead for two songs: covers of Eddie Cochran's 20 Flight Rock and Ronnie Hawkins's 40 Days. The concert was recorded to tape – no, not to a hard drive – and at one point the evening had to be stopped so that a new reel of tape could be inserted.

O'Brien and White's Live at Third Man recording is now available for pre-order, exclusively on vinyl. ( http://store.thirdmanrecords.com/conanliveatthirdman.aspx) O'Brien has also reportedly prepared a spoken word single to be released by Third Man.

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Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant Announces New Album 'Band Of Joy'

Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant has announced details about a new solo album. ‘Band Of Joy’, which is the follow-up to 2007’s ‘Raising Sand’, will be released on September 13.

The record was co-produced by Plant and Nashville guitarist Buddy Miller.

“Buddy’s integral to this album, you can hear his taste all over the instrumentation,” Plant said.

Music News & Notes

LA Artist To Get Vinyl Releases

IAMSOUND Records one of the biggest independent distributors of Vinyl records will be releasing a series of limited edition split 7-inches representing L.A. artists(Local Natives, Nosaj Thing, Fool’s Gold, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic 0’s and many more) called the LA Collection.

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Decrepit Birth Reveals "Polarity" Album Artwork


Santa Cruz CA’s tech-death metallers Decrepit Birth have revealed the artwork for their upcoming "Polarity" album, which is to be released on July 27th in North America on Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork was completed by artist Dan Seagrave and can be viewed through Decibel Magazine.

Guitarist Matt Sotelo explained the meaning behind the cover: "Dan's art fits the overall theme of the album perfectly. We had approached Dan with some ideas at a show of ours he attended. It was really cool to finally meet Dan in person and get the chance to explain to him some of our song themes as well as ideas for the new album cover. We could tell that he was excited to help us on this one! The cover depicts images of ancient energies and balance, which is something that is personal for us, and perfectly reflects our abstract lyrical and musical style. Dan's art is so unmistakable!"



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Crenshaw plans periodic vinyl releases

Marshall Crenshaw's album releases have been somewhat sporadic in the past, but the Berkley-bred rocker plans to record a series of singles that will come out "one every four months for the next two years." Each will carry one original song on the A side and a cover on the flip, and they'll be pressed on vinyl as well as available in the same manner online.

"It's not exactly formalized yet, but that's where I'm heading," said Crenshaw, 56, who resides with his wife and two children in upstate New York and is best known for his '80s hits "Someday Someway" and "Cynical Girl" and for playing John Lennon in an off-Broadway production of "Beatlemania."

"I'm thinking that whoever is left out there who still buys records, I should be trying to connect with them and relate with them, 'cause I still love records myself.

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NBC News-Vinyl Records Make a Huge Comeback

This Date In Music History - June 13

Birthdays:

Bobby Freeman (1940)

Dennis Locorriere - Dr Hook (1949)

Bo Donaldson is 60

Biography
Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods shot to prominence in 1974 with "Billy, Don't Be a Hero." Sales that topped three million copies brought the group a gold record. The single spent two weeks in the top spot on the charts. The number one single was the band's greatest success, but it didn't mark the first time that the group charted. Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods made a showing on the charts with "Someone Special" in 1972 and "Deeper and Deeper" the following year. The band was ten years old when "Billy, Don't Be a Hero" made such a splash, and it had already performed as the opening act for such artists as Herman's Hermits, the Box Tops, the Osmond Brothers, the Rascals, the Grass Roots, and Paul Revere & the Raiders. The group also performed on American Bandstand. After "Billy, Don't Be a Hero," the band took "Who Do You Think You Are" into the Top 20. "The Heartbreak Kid" followed, reaching the Top 40. The group charted again with "House on Telegraph Hill" and "Our Last Song Together."

Donaldson, whose real name is Robert Walter Donaldson, sang and played keyboard and the trumpet. The group also included lead vocalist James Michael Gibbons on bass and trumpet; lead vocalist Richard Leon Joswick on percussion; Gary James Coveyou on vocals, woodwinds, and reeds; David Alan Krock on vocals, trumpet, and bass; Richard Brunetti on vocals, percussion, and drums; and Earl Baker Scott on vocals and guitar. Danny Loveland, a co-vocalist on the Heywoods' number one single, dropped out in 1975 to pursue a solo career and record "Black Is Black." Originally a drummer, Loveland began singing because the group kept losing its lead singers. When he gave up singing, the Kansas native launched a disco that he named Backstage. He went on to establish a restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand. ~ Linda Seida, All Music Guide




Howard Lees - Heart (1951)

Rolf Brendel - Nena (1957)

Robbie Merrill - Godsmack (1963)

Paul deLisle - Smash Mouth (1963)

UK singer David Gray (1968)

Deneice Pearson - 5 Star (1968)

Rivers Cuomo - Weezer (1970)


They Are Missed:

Clyde McPhatter, original lead vocalist with The Drifters, died of a heart attack in New York in 1972. Joined Billy Ward & the Dominoes in 1950, formed The Drifters in 1953, had several solo hits including 1962 "Lover Please," was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Born on this day in 1934, Uriel Jones, session drummer for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s. Jones played on many Motown classics including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," by Marvin Gaye, "Cloud Nine" by the Temptations, "I Second That Emotion" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles and "For Once In My Life" by Stevie Wonder. Died on 24th March 2009.


History:

Frank Zappa graduated from Antelope Valley High in Lancaster, CA in 1958.

Ricky Nelson records "It's Up To You" in 1962.

Louis Armstrong started a six week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1964 with 'Hello Dolly!'



The Beatles performed another two shows at Centennial Hall, Adelaide, South Australia in 1964. For the four shows that The Beatles performed in Adelaide there were 12,000 tickets, for which 50,000 requests had been placed. The two shows on this day were drummer’s Jimmy Nicol's last as a "temporary Beatle". Ringo Starr (who had been ill), re-joined The Beatles in Melbourne the next day.

The Rolling Stones appeared on ABC-TV's "Hollywood Palace" in 1964 and are the butt of several jokes by guest host Dean Martin.

The Bee Gees appeared live on the UK TV show 'As You Like It' in 1967. The group were promoting their debut single "New York Mining Disaster 1941."



The Rolling Stones held a photo call in Hyde Park in 1969 to introduce new guitarist Mick Taylor.

The Beatles started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1970 with 'The Long And Winding Road', the group's 20th US #1. The album 'Let It Be' started a four-week run at #1 the US album chart on the same day.

The Allman Brothers Band, Traffic, the Mothers Of Invention and Ike & Tina Turner perform at the Cosmic Carnival at Atlanta Stadium in 1970.

Grand Funk Railroad, supported by Steel Mill, (featuring Bruce Springsteen) appeared at the Ocean Ice Palace in Bricktown, New Jersey, in 1970 (tickets $5.00).

John Lennon made his last ever TV appearance in 1975 when he appeared on 'Salute To Sir Lew Grade', performing "Slippin And Slidin" and "Imagine."

The Deborah Harry/Meat Loaf film, "Roadie", opened in 1980.

The Jacksons' "State of Shock," was released in 1984. Mick Jagger did guest vocals.

Atlantic Starr went to #1 on the US singles chart in 1987 with "Always."

In 1988, the biggest charity Rock concert since Live Aid three years earlier took place at London's Wembley Stadium, to denounce South African apartheid. Among the performers were Sting, Stevie Wonder, Bryan Adams, George Michael, Whitney Houston and Dire Straits. Half the money raised went towards anti-apartheid activities in Britain, the rest was donated to children's charities in southern Africa.

Billy Ray Cyrus started a 17-week run at #1 on the US album chart in 1992 with 'Some Gave All'.

In 1992, future U.S. President Bill Clinton criticized Sister Souljah for making remarks "filled with hatred" towards whites.

Law enforcement officials in Texas called for a ban on Ice-T's "Cop Killer" album in 1992.

Alanis Morissette released 'Jagged Little Pill' in 1995. The album went on to sell over 30 million copies world-wide making Morissette the first female Canadian to score a US #1 album.

In 2000, 37-year-old Susan E Santodonato collapsed and died of a heart attack outside New York radio station Star 105.7. after a Britney Spears impersonator left the building. A crowd had gathered after a DJ claimed Britney Spears was in the studio.

In 2000, a roadie who worked for The Spice Girls, Oasis, Elton John and Whitney Houston was arrested and charged with smuggling millions of pounds worth of Ecstasy into the UK.

Metallica’s “St. Anger” debuts at #1 in 2003. The album’s release date was moved up to thwart bootleggers.

The Arctic Monkeys made their live debut at The Grapes pub in Sheffield, England in 2003.

In 2005, Michael Jackson was cleared of all charges of child abuse by a jury of eight women and four men at the end of a 16-week hearing in Santa Maria, California. Jackson was found not guilty of all 10 charges including abusing a 13-year-old boy, conspiracy to kidnap and supplying alcohol to a minor to assist with a felony.

A two-disc Billy Joel album, "12 Gardens Live," recorded during a record-breaking 12-night run of sold-out concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden, was issued in 2006.

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts issue "Sinner," in 2006, their first new studio album in nearly 12 years. On the album, Jett gets political for the first time. She says, "I've wanted to write about political issues and the state of our country, but how do you do that without coming off being preachy? I think a lot of that fear stopped me from even trying.”

Reissues of the first two Boston albums, ‘76's self-titled effort and ‘78's Don't Look Back, hit stores in 2006. Remastered by Tom Scholz, Boston's lead guitarist and studio wizard, the package features his liner notes. "Boston turned the disco-crazed music industry on its head," claims Scholz.

Also in 2006, Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and Mike Love, Beach Boys founders and survivors, appear together publically for the first time in 10 years to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the classic “Pet Sounds” album.

In 2008, A Chicago jury acquitted R. Kelly of all 14 charges of child pornography against him. The US singer was found not guilty of making an explicit sex video that prosecutors had said showed him having sex with a girl as young as 13. Both Kelly and the alleged victim, now 23, denied they were the people shown on the tape, which the jury saw. The defence argued that the man in the tape did not have a large mole on his back as does Mr Kelly, and that the tape could have been doctored.

Michael Fremer Album Review

ALBUM REVIEW:
John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat (reissue)
Hooker 'n Heat


Liberty/pure pleasure PPAN LST-35002 2 180g LPs


Produced by: Skip Taylor and Robert Hite, Jr.
Engineered by: Dino Lappas
Mixed by: Martin Birch and Robert Zimbler
Mastered by: Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios

Review by: Michael Fremer
2010-06-01

The first two sides of this double record set spotlight Hooker, his incendiary, coiled-snake stinging guitar, his foot stomping, mutable time-keeping and his chant-like, mournful singing all recorded intimately. Canned Heat co-founder Al Wilson contributes harmonica and piano on some of the tunes that are otherwise all Hooker.

On most songs the engineer puts Hooker in one channel, his guitar in the other and his foot in the center and you won’t know which to fixate upon and that includes the foot. When Wilson joins in, he’s center stage too, the harmonica bathed in reverb and therefore inhabiting a wet space somewhere other than from where Hooker plays.

Having Hooker playing and singing live and putting his guitar in effect ten feet from his voice produces an unrealistic but entertaining and useful perspective. You can zone out the voice and listen to Hooker’s adrenaline-charged guitar, appreciating the complexity he wrings from seemingly simple and familiar riffs, most of which he invented and everyone else copied.

A fierce, agitated intensity and an almost religious fervor you just don’t seem to hear anymore jump from Hooker as he chugs his way through these basic tunes. Van Morrison resonates with a similar jumpy edge. No wonder he grew up a big fan. Hooker’s song “You Talk Too Much” doesn’t go much beyond the four words except at the end where he closes it out with “Shut up.”

A few more collaborations with Wilson begin side three and then finally Canned Heat comes in for the final five tunes, ending with signature “Boogie Chillen NO. 2.”

Hooker improvises a song describing the state of the world 1970. About the young people, change, race relations, the war in Vietnam and the need for the old generation to pass away in order for there to be an end to the conflicts unsettling the world. It didn’t exactly turn out that way but the sentiment was sweet.

The hotel room cover captures the intimacy of the sonics. The recording sounds as if it was recorded in a small room like that but the inside shows you the studio recording session.

The between song patter with the recording booth serves to document the recording process: Hooker was hired for a performance that would be recorded. He was on the clock or so it sounded. Wilson and the band would be added to some tunes, but in no way was this a cooperative, collaborative effort. It was Canned Heat going for a thrill ride.

It’s pure music making of the simplest yet most complex kind, simply and purely recorded. I have to admit I was either too stupid or too frozen to appreciate this when this was first issued in 1970. I’d heard all of this kind of thing before, I thought, as a kid and so dismissed it looking for new thrills. But clearly I wasn’t listening. Al Wilson died shortly after this was recorded. Hooker lived long enough to see his career resurrected yet again as he hit old age. He kept boogie-ing until the end, attracting yet another generation of kids to his particularly visceral place in the sun. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Michael over at http://www.musicangle.com/  for the exclusive rights to reprint this material.

Copyright © 2008 MusicAngle.com & Michael Fremer - All rights reserved Reprinted by Permission

Pied Piper Singer Crispian St. Peters Passes Away at 71

Crispian St. Peters, the singer who took the song "Pied Piper" to the top ten in 1966, has passed away at the age of 71. While no cause of death was announced, it is known that he had been a long-time sufferer of Emphysema and had been on permanent oxygen for some time.

St. Peters was born in Kent, England as Robin Peter Smith and originally played in a number of local bands including the Two Tones, the Country Gentlemen and Beat Formula Three. He broke away in 1965 when manager Dave Nicholson saw promise and changed directions to a folk-rock sound. Crispian signed with Decca Records and, after a few unsuccessful releases, he came upon the Ian & Sylvia song You Were On My Mind. Already a big hit for the We Five in the U.S., he and Nicholson recorded a slightly slower version. The song took off in the U.K., peaking at number 2 in early 1966.

With the hit came a great deal of focus by the press and St. Peters started to make outlandish statements to get publicity, including a statement that the Beatles were "past it" and that he was a better singer than Elvis Presley and more exciting than Tom Jones.

At first, the statements kept him in the public eye and he followed up his initial success with the single The Pied Piper which went to number 5 in the U.K and number 4 in the U.S. Unfortunately, his outlandish comments in the press and a lack of musical identity sank his chances of another hit on either side of the Atlantic.

In 1968, he tried to move to country music with no success and has since been a fixture on the British oldies circuit along with occasionally reentering the recording studio with his band Old Crow. Over the years, he suffered three nervous breakdowns, a stroke, a divorce and the emphysema that may have taken his life.

Source:  http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/

This Date In Music History - June 11

Birthdays:

Joseph DiNicola - Joey and the Starlighters (1940) (Jimi Hendrix was a member of the band during 1964).



John Lawton - Uriah Heep (1946)

Glenn Leonard - Temptations (1947)

Alan Skipper - Pretty Things (1948)

Bonnie Pointer - Pointer Sisters (1951)

Connie Van Zandt - .38 Special (1952)

Frank Beard (ironically, the one without the beard) - ZZ Top (1949)

Robert Birch - Stereo MC's (1961)

Dan Lavery - Tonic (1969)


They Are Missed:

The late James "Pookie" Hudson, lead singer of the Spaniels ("Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight") was born in 1934.




History:

The Ink Spots recorded "Maybe" in 1940.

In 1949, Hank Williams made his debut at the 'Grand Ole Opry' in Nashville and received an unprecedented total of six encores.

Elvis Presley's "Teddy Bear/Loving You" single was released in 1957.

In 1962, the Beatles recorded a BBC radio program, "Here We Go", at the Playhouse Theatre in Manchester, in front of a studio audience composed largely of loyal Cavern fans. This was the last recording on which Pete Best played drums.

In 1964, Chicago police broke up a Rolling Stones "press conference" in the middle of Michigan Avenue.

Manfred Mann recorded "Do Wah Diddy" in 1964.



The Rolling Stones released the album "Got Live If You Want It" in 1965.

The British government announced in 1965 that the Beatles will receive the MBE (Members of the British Empire) Award. Some conservative MBE holders grumble that the it shouldn’t go to a bunch of Rock ‘n’ Rollers and turn in their awards. The Beatles get their MBEs just the same. After all, they about single-handedly saved the British economy. Later, John Lennon returns his award to protest the British government’s support of the war in Vietnam.

Janis Joplin debuted on stage at the Avalon ballroom in San Francisco in 1966.

The Rolling Stones started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1966 with "Paint It Black," the group's third US #1 single (also a #1 in the UK)..



Also in 1966, European radio stations mistakenly report that The Who's lead singer Roger Daltrey is dead. Actually, it was guitarist Pete Townshend who had been injured in a car accident a few days earlier.

Working late at the Abbey Road studios in London on The White Album in 1968, John Lennon worked on ‘Revolution 9’ in studio 3, while Paul McCartney recorded ‘Blackbird’ in studio 2.

A fire in a London record studio interrupts the Rolling Stones' recording of their "Beggar's Banquet" album there, 1968

David Bowie's single, "Space Oddity," was released in 1969 to coincide with the first lunar landing.

Today in 1977, the song "I'm Your Boogie Man" by K. C. & the Sunshine Band topped the charts and stayed there for a week.

The Rolling Stones released "Some Girls" in 1978.

In 1988, Nelson Mandellas 70th birthday tribute took place at Wembley Stadium, London, featuring Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, Dire Straits, Stevie Wonder, Tracy Chapman, George Michael, Eric Clapton, UB40, The Eurythmics and Simple Minds. The event was broadcast live on BBC 2 to 40 different countries with an estimated audience of 1 billion.

A Metallica concert at a small club in San Francisco was broadcast live via the Internet in 1996.

Aaliyah went to #1 on the US singles chart in 2000 with "Try Again." It became the first "airplay-only" song to reach #1 on the US singles chart (no points from a commercial single release).

This weeks Top 3 US album chart in 2000; Eminem, 'The Marshall Mathers LP' at #1. Kid Rock, 'The History Of Rock' at #2 and Britney Spears, 'Oops!...I Did It Again' at #3.

The live Bee Gees album "One Night Only" was released on CD in 2002.

In 2001, Sir Paul McCartney married Heather Mills at St Salvator Church, Ireland. Guests included Ringo Starr, David Gilmour, Jools Holland and Chrissie Hynde. Heather walked down the aisle clutching a bouquet of 11 'McCartney' roses.

Courtney Love surrendered to US police in 2004 after allegedly assaulting a woman at the home of her former manager and ex-boyfriend. Ms Love was charged with assault with a deadly weapon. She was later released on bail. The charges related to an incident on 25 April 2004, when Ms Love allegedly assaulted a woman with a bottle and a torch at the LA home of Jim Barber.

In 2005, Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin founding member and guitarist, was awarded an OBE in the Queen of England's Birthday Honours list and Queen guitarist and founding member Brian May was awarded a CBE.

In 2008, the American Federation of Musicians filed a federal lawsuit against the producers of American Idol, claiming musicians were underpaid because the show’s live music was re-recorded for re-runs. The union filed the suit seeking unspecified damages in the US District Court in Los Angeles, alleging that American Idol Productions Inc. and its subsidiary Tick Tock Productions Inc. violated a collective bargaining agreement.

Disturbed's "Indestructible" debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2008. Selling 252,000 copies in its first week the album marks the third straight time the group has topped the survey.

Chicago vinyl record stores survive digital music era

Written by Katie Schweiker, Jeremy Mikula and Leah Hendrickson

Dave's Records photo by Katie Schweiker


Audio Slideshow:Chicago On The Record – A visit to three Chicago Record Stores

In a world of iPods, Zunes, .mp3s, .wavs, .flacs, .aifs, .rms, .snds and other digital audio formats, 33 1/3 revolutions per minute still counts to some.

Despite Apple’s announcement that the 10 billionth song was downloaded from iTunes in February, many Chicagoans still listen to vinyl Long Play (LP) records from both new and old artists.

“.mp3s were really cool, and they still are,” said Dave Hofer, a new products buyer at Reckless Records’ Wicker Park location. “You could fit so many of them into a little thing, you know. You don’t have to carry a book of CDs in your car anymore, for example. But there’s just something about vinyl that draws people in.”

Reckless is a music store with three Chicago locations that sells new and used vinyl – LPs, 45s, and 78s – and used DVDs and CDs. In spite of the era of readily available digital media and an economic downturn, they still do a pretty good business, Hofer said.

“We have people who come in and only look for used DVDs and CDs,” Hofer said. “However, if we didn’t have vinyl, we’d go out of business. People come in with their old records because they grow out of stuff and are amazed that people are interested in [their old records]. I have people who come up and ask when we put out new stuff and I always say, ‘All day, every day, dude.’”

“No CD’s. Never had ‘em. Never will.” This sign hangs on the door to Dave’s Records in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. For owner Dave Crain, there is no other alternative to the sound of vinyl records. Dave’s, “will always be a store where vinyl is king,” Crain said.

Dave's Records photo by Katie Schweiker

Dave’s Records is one of the few strictly vinyl shops in Chicago with 40,000 titles to choose from. When you walk in you are greeted with the sweet, musty aroma of vinyl. The floor tiles beckon you further into the store with their checkered pattern. The walls are lined from floor to ceiling with vinyl. Each record in its spot is watched over by Crain as he sits at a raised counter.

These include new albums by new artists, used albums, imports, reissues and even albums that are out of print and difficult to find. Hand Crain a record and he will throw it on the store’s turntable for a spin to help shopper’s make an educated decision. Dave’s makes sure that if you can’t find what you are looking for in their store, they will send you to another local record store.

Crain said Dave’s is for “people who love records. They are part of the ever evolving and ever revolving world of record shoppers.”

Dusty Groove America is a hub for certain niche music lovers: jazz, soul and funk are what the store specializes in. Customers appreciate the specific target audience compared to other music providers.

Dusty Groove America photo by Leah Hendrickson


“Best Buy is trying to cater to a broad audience,” said Phil Garrison of Chicago while he thumbed through a stack of records. “It’s going to be hard to find obscure items. That’s the main reason why I come to places like this.”

According to Nielsen SoundScan more than 2 million vinyl albums were sold in 2009. That is an increase of 35 percent from 2008.

While record sales are on the rise, CD sales continue to fall. Even though CDs cost nearly half as much as their vinyl counterpart, their sales have dropped 20 percent this year, according to Nielsen. However, vinyl record sales only account for about 1 percent of all album sales.




vinyl at Reckless photo by Jeremy Mikula


Statistics show that digital music formats aren’t going away, either.

According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the digital music industry grew internationally by about 25 percent in 2008, making $3.7 billion. Digital platforms now account for nearly 20 percent of all music sales, a five percent growth from 2007, IFPI said.

One reason for these figures is the ease and portability of things like the iPod, whose numerous models can store anywhere from 500 to 40,000 songs.

“iPods were a crazy new inventions when they came out, but I think the novelty of them is starting to wear off,” Hofer said. “.mp3s and digital music, even CDs, are functional but that’s about it. They’re like decorative buttons on a sport coat. Whereas something like an LP comes down to being able to hold it and having a thing, like buying a book that you really like instead of just reading it on the Kindle. If I were to sum it up in one word, I’d say ‘physicality’ plays a big part in it.”

But while the idea of having physical media is important to some, comparing things like audio quality and physicality is like comparing apples and oranges.

Reckless Records Wicker Park photo by Jeremy Mikula

“Are [records] better? I don’t know,” said Stephen Sowley as he shopped in Reckless’ Wicker Park location. “For me they’re better, but for others .mp3s are better. ‘Better’ is a relevant term, you know? You can’t take a record player with you when you go jogging.”













A special thank you to the authors (Katie Schweiker, Jeremy Mikula, Leah Hendrickson) for the exclusive rights to reprint their material.

SOURCE: http://kschweiker.wordpress.com

Back from the dead: vinyl makes a comeback

Written by Tampa Rock Music Examiner Heather Clark
 

It has been said by many that trends come as quickly as they go. That what was once considered a popular gotta have it item eventually becomes labeled as "uncool" and goes out of style never to be seen again. Or so we thought. Because all it takes is for a few decades or so to pass and then this trend that had supposedly gone out of style ages ago suddenly re-emerges again. Just as popular if not more popular than ever before. This couldn't be more true when it comes to vinyl records.

According to the Recording Industry Association of America, vinyl began making a national comeback in 2007 when the American music industry saw a 46.2 percent revenue increase for vinyl sales. During this same period CD sales dropped by 20.5 percent. Though vinyl sales account for less than 1 percent of total album sales, Rollingstone.com reports that the numbers of records sold in 2008 jumped to 1.88 million from 988,000 in 2007.

So why now after once being considered as dead as the eight-track tape are vinyls making such a startling comeback? Collectors say it's because vinyl records put the experience back into music. It makes an industry that has almost been completely drained of its artists with originality and passion for their music seem genuine once more.

One of the most recognized difference between CD's and vinyl records is the quality of sound. CD's are thinner and flatter, it is simply a compressed format that spins quickly while a laser reads it. But with a vinyl it is larger, spins slower, and there is an actual needle playing over the groove. Enthusiasts argue that listening to a record is hearing the music the way it is supposed to sound.

It also seems that record stores are becoming more prominent once again and easier to find in almost any city. Right here in our own backyard lies Bananas Record Warehouse, the worlds largest record store that has been open since 1977. Collectively Bananas has over 14,000 sq. feet of space shared between two warehouses that are across the street from one another. Their two story warehouse is where nearly three million vinyl LP's are stored and sold to the public. Across the street in their smaller single story warehouse they cell CD's, movies, vinyl singles, and hundreds of vinyl LP's for as little as $1 a piece.

So how is it that in our present day and modern age something as simple as a vinyl record, not so long ago considered an extinct medium of commercial music, could become so popular once more? Maybe it's because although music has gone digital all we really want deep down is something that feels tangible, human. Or maybe this whole vinyl thing is just a trend that will have its day and then once again be gone "forever". Or maybe, just maybe, it's because in these pressing societal times people are nostalgic for the good ole' days and are once again using the music on the vinyls as an escape. If only for a little while. I personally hope the later of these maybes is true.

A special thanks to Heather Clark at http://rss.examiner.com for the exclusive rights to reprint this story.

Music News & Notes

Doors' Guitarist ROBBY KRIEGER to Release New Solo Album

Robby Krieger returns with a new instrumental solo album, 'Singularity', on Oglio Records, a Fontana/Universal distributed label. On 'Singularity', Robby continues to explore his unique flamenco infused jazz-rock sound as heard on his previous album for Oglio Records, 'Cinematix'. 'Singularity' was produced by Robby Krieger and Arthur Barrow, features an original Krieger painting as the cover art and will also be available on vinyl.

During his time as The Doors guitarist, Robby wrote some of the band’s best known songs including “Light My Fire”, “Love Me Two Times”, “Love Her Madly” and “Touch Me”. He was also voted in at #91 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time and in 2009, Robby partnered with the Gibson Guitar Corporation to release his very own limited edition signature guitar, the ‘Inspired By Krieger SG’.

Robby Krieger rejoins his fellow The Doors member, Ray Manzarek, who also released his own solo record, “Love Her Madly” on Oglio Records, in their group Manzarek-Krieger for a new tour beginning May 27th.

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STONE TEMPLE PILOTS Release First New Album in Close To A Decade

Atlantic recording group Stone Temple Pilots has announced details of their upcoming North American headline tour. The hugely anticipated dates will begin Tuesday, August 10th at Denver, Colorado’s world-famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre and then continue through early September. Joining Stone Temple Pilots on all dates will be special guests Cage the Elephant.

'Stone Temple Pilots' – the Grammy Award-winning band’s first all-new collection in close to a decade – is currently the #1 rock album in the country

Stone Temple Pilots – who will spend the early part of their summer on the other side of the Atlantic, hitting Europe for a series of long awaited headline shows and festival performances – heralded the release of the acclaimed 'Stone Temple Pilots' with a rare club appearance at New York City’s Gramercy Theatre, followed by headline performances at a number of early summer radio festivals.

Among the album’s many highlights is the raucous first single, “Between The Lines.” The track has proven a rock radio sensation, recently spending four weeks as the #1 track at Mainstream Rock radio outlets nationwide, as well as three weeks atop the Modern Rock airplay charts. In addition, the “Between The Lines” companion video can be seen regularly on MTV2 and Fuse’s No. 1 Countdown. The clip – as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes footage – is streaming now at www.stonetemplepilots.com. Furthermore, a new single, ”Take a Load Off” is set to impact at multi-format rock radio outlets everywhere later this month. A companion video is currently in production.

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Iron and Wine, Dan Deacon Contribute to Suicide Squeeze Singles Series

Singles series go hand in hand and with independent music and artists and is a proud indie tradition. The Seattle record label Suicide Squeeze is no stranger to this tradition, having released groups of 7"s since the mid-90s. In 1996, Suicide Squeeze began releasing 7-inch records as lifesblood, singles, mostly from Pacific NW bands appeared, documenting some of the most influential music of that time: Modest Mouse, Elliott Smith, 764-Hero, and Pedro the Lion: each played an important role. The label broadened its reach over the years (as well as its series of singles), continually releasing music by a diverse, yet select group of musicians, including The Melvins, Of Montreal, HEALTH, Black Mountain, School of Seven Bells, and many more...

Now add Iron & Wine, Memoryhouse and JEFF The Brotherhood to that list of names... Along with The Coathangers, and their EP of remixes (by Dan Deacon and Judi Chicago), each artist's 7-inch will be released in a limited addition of 500 black vinyl discs and 250 color. The Coathangers and JEFF the Brotherhood will release the first entries in the series on July 20. The Coathangers' single features remixes from Dan Deacon and Judi Chicago.

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Dr. Demento Ends Radio Show After Forty Years

It's the end of the line for Dr. Demento, at least it is for his radio listeners. After forty years and with a dwindling supply of stations purchasing the show, the good Doctor and Talonian Productions, who distributes the program, have decided to stop offering it to radio effective with the show for the weekend of June 5.

The following is the official announcement that was posted on the Doctor's website last Sunday:


June 6, 2010
A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT...

This weekend, the Dr. Demento Show will have its final broadcast on KIYU, KLOO, WLVQ (QFM96), WRKH (The Rocket) and KOZT (The Coast).


This was a very painful decision for the Doctor...he really hates to let it go after almost 40 years...but he has come to agree with his manager and his family that it's necessary. The broadcast has been losing money for some time.


THE GOOD NEWS -- Dr. Demento intends to continue producing new shows every week for www.drdemento.com for the foreseeable future. A new one will be available Saturday morning, June 12, and more new shows will be posted every Saturday thereafter.


Also...if you live in or around Amarillo, TX, you're in luck...by special agreement and due to contractual considerations, a version of the internet show will be heard weekly on KACV-FM there, at least through the summer.


The Doctor wishes to express his grateful appreciation to everyone who's been listening in Alaska, Oregon, Ohio, Alabama and California, and hopes all of you will give the www.drdemento.com broadcast a try.


Stay deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeemented!



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Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax To Play 'Historic' Gig
Live in select movie theatres...

Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax are set to play a “historic” gig via satellite. The concert, on June 22, will be broadcast live from into select movie theatres from the Sonisphere festival in Bulgaria.

It is the first time all four metal bands have performed together on the same bill.

Cinemas in London, Manchester and many other major UK cities and towns are due to broadcast the gig in HD.

A New Day for Jethro Tull

Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson discusses post-9/11 travel, new music and the death of album art prior to Atlantic City gig at Caesars June 12.

By Jeff Schwachter

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Ian Anderson

Speaking with Jethro Tull’s frontman Ian Anderson, it’s certain that his longtime band isn’t “Living in the Past.” Since Anderson founded the folk-blues-rock-classical and global-minded band in 1967 Britain, with a string of successful albums and tours following its 1968 debut This Was, Jethro Tull — as well as Anderson and his solo projects — has continued to tour and even from time to time release outstanding material, including the 1988 Grammy winning Crest of a Knave and 2003’s heralded Christmas Album (2003). You can’t listen to a classic-rock radio station for very long without hearing at least one Tull song. And on Saturday night (June 12) at Caesars in Atlantic City you’ll be able to hear such radio staples as “Aqualung,” “Locomotive Breath” and “Skating Away” — plus many more. Anderson spoke by phone recently with AC Weekly.

When I was growing up in the ’80s, I used to go to used record stores and pick up all the Jethro Tull albums. One of the things that I always loved about your albums, aside from the music, was the amazing album art. Do you think it kind of stinks that today most music doesn’t have any visual component with it? I mean, today most music is just a vapor; it’s just downloaded.

Well, that’s right. It’s different. … Vinyl gave us something to work with. Clearly the space was there and you’d utilize it and you got involved and excited about doing it. It was a way of bringing together visual arts with the musical ones — [a sort of] natural thing to do. But these days, well, one mp3 file looks much like another.

Can you name any other bands that spent as much time thinking about their album art as Jethro Tull?

Well, I think many did, and there were those album-artwork artists. I forget the names, the guy who did … oh, Roger Dean, he did a lot album [covers], but is probably best known for his album artwork for the albums of Yes. They used Roger Dean’s work and Roger Dean did a kind of slightly sci-fi, slightly hippie thing that lent itself well to posters and reproductions and he was the “Yes” man. And then there were other guys like Storm Thorgerson who worked on albums by Pink Floyd and later became a video director and directed one of our videos at one point. So, yeah, there were these guys who were known as the wiz kids coming up with innovative album artwork, but in the case of the Jethro Tull stuff, it was a little bit more in house. It tended to be. I suppose most of them were my work, but notable exceptions were the Stand Up album, the Aqualung album and the Benefit album. Those were the three that our manager Terry Ellis kind of put together in conjunction with different artists. But then when we got to Thick As a Brick and onwards it tended to be [me]. … You know the work is one of the benefits of doing artwork; the irony is, of course, you’re working in an age where many people are no longer really buying physical product; they [aren’t seeing it]. People that are listening to Jethro Tull music for the first time now are almost certainly going to be downloading it rather than buying physical product, which is harder and harder to find and there are fewer and fewer record stores.

Yeah, around the world.

Yes, I mean all the great record chains have pretty much gone. In fact, most countries have probably only one operation left. Over here it’s HMV and in Germany for example it’s Saturn and in the U.S.A., Tower Records and Virgin Records – all these places, they’ve all disappeared. I guess, you know, you find a few things on the checkout of your supermarket, [but] that’s pretty much it. ........

Read the rest of this fantastic interview:  http://www.atlanticcityweekly.com/

Ask Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 7, 2010


DEAR JERRY: A few years ago, you wrote about hit makers of the 1940s, or earlier, who at that time were still living.

My question is similar, but specifically about the Pop & Rock stars of the '50s. Of that decade's top artists, how many are still standing, and what are their ages?
—Marianne J. Duffy, Evansville, Ind.

DEAR MARIANNE: They may not all be standing, but each and every one in this group clearly has a pulse.

Compiled per your request is a list that does not likely exist elsewhere, of the still-living stars whose careers either began or flourished in the '50s. There may be others. Some of these folks are also among the top acts of the '60s, and a couple of them gained fame in the '50s as a lead singer of a group, then established themselves as a solo performer.

All are listed according to their age on June 1, 2010, and those the same age are in day of birth order. For example, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Mathis are both 74, but Lewis is one day older than Mathis.

From Tony Martin, soon to be a centurion, to youngster Brenda Lee, who just qualified for Medicare, here they are:

Tony Martin (97)
Jimmy McCracklin (88)
Johnny Otis (88)
Kitty Kallen (88)
Kay Starr (87)
Doris Day (86)
Roger Williams (85)
B.B. King (84)
Stan Freberg (83)
Tony Bennett (83)
Chuck Berry (83)
Ed Ames (82)
Patti Page (82)
Andy Williams (82)
Fats Domino (82)
Vic Damone (81)
Eddie Fisher (81)
Bobby Bland (80)
Joni James (79)
Little Richard (77)
Lloyd Price (77)
Jimmie Rodgers (76)
Pat Boone (76)
Steve Lawrence (74)
Jerry Lee Lewis (74)
Johnny Mathis (74)
Jack Scott (74)
Frankie Valli (73)
Etta James (72)
Duane Eddy (72)
Ben E. King (71)
Connie Francis (71)
Neil Sedaka (71)
Johnny Tillotson (71)
Dion DiMucci (70)
Frankie Avalon (70)
Freddy Cannon (70)
Jerry Butler (70)
Smokey Robinson (70)
Cliff Richard (69)
Paul Anka (68)
Bobby Rydell (68)
Bobby Vee (67)
Brenda Lee (65)

DEAR JERRY: Having read the complaints voiced by your readers about the lack of good sense by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, you just might be willing to listen to my gripes. This time it's about another similar outfit, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, which supposedly honors worthy writers from all styles of music.

My number one grievance with them is their inexplicable overlooking of Conway Twitty.

For starters, Conway wrote hundreds of hits for himself and others, including 19 of his own No. 1 hits! That anyone wrote that many chart-toppers is amazing!

Consider also the many who are already in the SHOF who, though talented, have resumes that are but a drop in the bucket compared to Conway's.

Is he the Connie Francis of songwriters? Mmmm, they both recorded for MGM.

Who else would you add to the list of deserving but denied composers by the Songwriters Hall of Fame?
—Ernest Camfield, Louisville, Ky.


DEAR ERNEST: I can add a few names to the list, but none are as conspicuous by their absence as Conway Twitty. Forget for the moment his mind-boggling success in all other respects, the man is an industry giant based only on his writing. Absurd? Yes, but I'm sure it has nothing to do with MGM.

Three more glaring omissions: How about the incomparable Hank Thompson, and those two great Georgia-born talents: Ray Stevens and Joe South?

All three are regarded as spectacular writers and they more than qualify for SHOF induction.


IZ ZAT SO? The beginning of the singer-songwriter era is generally thought to be the early '60s, and understandably so.

However, the first Rock Era singer to reach No. 1 with his own composition came along much earlier: Buddy Knox with “Party Doll,” in March 1957.

Six months later, Paul Anka followed suit with his homage to “Diana,” and Buddy Holly with “That'll Be the Day.”

As evidenced by two Buddys and a Paul, the singer-songwriter concept is indeed a bit older than is widely regarded.

Seven years before “Party Doll,” the C&W and R&B fields had their own singer-songwriting stars. Among those are Hank Williams and Fats Domino, both renowned for writing their own tunes.


Jerry Osborne answers as many questions as possible through this column.
Write Jerry at: Box 255, Port Townsend, WA 98368


E-mail: jpo@olympus.net

Visit his Web site: www.jerryosborne.com 

All values quoted in this column are for near-mint condition.

Copyright 2010 Osborne Enterprises- Reprinted By Permission

Music News & Notes

RAINBOW Albums To Be Reissued On Vinyl

Back On Black, which specializes in vinyl editions of classic metal albums and is dedicated to providing top-quality releases for record collectors and metal fans worldwide, has announced that 2010 will see the release of the original classic RAINBOW albums on vinyl. All records will be 180-gram heavyweight vinyl and packaged in deluxe gatefold sleeves. The first 1,000 copies of each title will come in limited-edition colored vinyl.

Due out on July 12 are the following titles:

* Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975)
* Rising (1976)
* On Stage (1977)
* Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978)
* Down To Earth (1979)
* Difficult to Cure (1981)
* Straight Between the Eyes (1982)
* Finyl Vinyl (1986)





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Alan Parsons Releasing First New Song in Six Years

Alan Parsons has signed with Authentik Artists which will release a new single, "All Our Yesterdays," worldwide on June 15 via most digital download sites.

All Our Yesterdays is Parsons first new music since the album A Valid Path in 2004. The song was written and recorded as part of a new educational series that he is doing entitled The Art and Science of Sound Recording. Those purchasing the digital single will also receive the theme song from the series, Alpha Centauri.

In a rarity, Parsons is taking the lead vocal on the song with additional instrumentation by Simon Philips (Toto, the Who), Rami Jaffe (Wallflowers, Foo Fighters) and Nathan East (Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson)